UEFA Pro Diploma Lead Coach Developer

About the Role

The role leads the leadership, delivery and continuous evolution of The FA's most advanced coaching qualification, preparing coaches for the demands of leading at the highest levels of the game. It is responsible for creating a challenging, relevant and highly personalised learning experience that recognises and values the diversity of coaches, their experiences and the environments in which they operate, developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to thrive as a coach and leader within modern high-performance environments across the men's and women's game. Working collaboratively across FA Learning, the Technical Directorate and the professional game, the role ensures the qualification maintains the highest standards of quality, relevance and impact, remains responsive to the evolving demands of elite football, and makes a significant contribution to the development of outstanding English coaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and continuous evolution of The FA's UEFA Pro Diploma, ensuring it remains relevant, innovative and responsive to the changing demands of coaching and leading at the highest levels of the men's, women's and para game.
• Create an outstanding and highly personalised learning experience, providing appropriate levels of challenge and support to meet individual development needs and enable coaches to apply their learning within their own performance environments.
• Build and lead a high-quality UEFA Pro Diploma delivery team, identifying, developing and providing opportunities for a diverse pipeline of coach developers and bringing together leading technical experts and industry practitioners with the expertise
• Experience and credibility to enhance the programme.
• Lead the provision of in-situ development and support for UEFA Pro Diploma coaches, connecting programme learning to each coach's role, context and individual development needs.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Leads for Men's and Women's Coach Development and colleagues across FA Learning and the Technical Directorate, ensuring the programme reflects the evolving needs and contexts of the men's, women's and para game and is aligned to the wider coaching pathway
• Technical priorities and The FA's strategic ambitions for elite coaching.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across the professional game, ensuring the programme is informed by current and emerging practice and provides coaches with access to relevant expertise, experiences and high-performance environments.
• Collaborate closely with The FA Elite Coach Developer to support the monitoring and tracking of elite English coaches, ensuring insight and connectivity between the UEFA Pro Diploma and the wider approach to elite coach development.
• Evaluate the quality, relevance and impact of the UEFA Pro Diploma using learner insight, stakeholder feedback, assessment outcomes and wider evidence to drive continuous improvement, while ensuring the programme meets UEFA requirements and FA qualification standards.
• Lead the effective planning and management of the UEFA Pro Diploma, including programme planning, resources and budget, ensuring effective use of investment and contributing to the wider strategic priorities of FA Learning and the Technical Directorate.
• Undertake additional tasks as required to meet The FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and well-being are maintained.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Hold the UEFA Pro Licence.
• Significant experience of coach development within professional or elite football, with a strong understanding of the demands placed on coaches and leaders operating in high-performance environments across the men's and women's game.
• Significant experience of coaching, managing or supporting coaches within the professional men's or women's game.
• Demonstrable experience of designing, delivering or leading high-quality coach development and learning experiences for experienced coaches.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of modern coaching practice, elite football and the evolving demands of the professional game.
• Highly developed coach development skills, with the ability to challenge, support and develop experienced coaches through individual, group and in-situ learning.
• Proven ability to build credibility and strong relationships with senior coaches, managers, technical leaders and other stakeholders across professional football.
• Ability to lead and coordinate a diverse delivery team, effectively utilising coach developers, subject matter experts and industry practitioners to create high-quality learning experiences.
• Strong understanding of adult learning and coach development principles, with the ability to translate these into relevant and highly personalised learning.
• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to operate effectively with senior stakeholders and within complex performance environments.
• Strong organisational and programme leadership skills, with experience of planning, managing resources and delivering complex programmes to a consistently high standard.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Complete a DBS check, the level of which is based on the activity of the role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

Preferred Skills

• Experience of working across, or strong knowledge of, different contexts within the men's, women's and/or para game.
• Experience of leading or delivering UEFA coaching qualifications or comparable advanced professional development programmes.
• Experience of providing in-situ coach development within professional club or national-team environments.
• Knowledge and experience of assessment, quality assurance and qualification standards within coach education.
• Established networks and relationships across English and/or international professional football.
• Evidence of continued professional development and engagement with emerging practice, research and innovation in elite coaching and coach development.

Workplace

• Hybrid working model, with the expectation of working from the contractual location for part of the week and as and when required by the team, with the remaining days worked remotely.
• The hybrid model is monitored and may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.

Salary

• Competitive salary

Benefits & Perks

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Private medical cover funded by The FA.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, and 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
• Great opportunities to develop and grow in the role.
• Unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, the home of English football.
• A world-class Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, described as an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

The Application Process

1. Assessment day takes place in person at St. George's Park, Burton-upon-Trent on Wednesday, 11 November.
2. Candidates with particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process should mention this during their application.

About the Company

The FA is committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, supported by unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, the home of English football, and a world-class Elite Performance Centre at St. George's Park in Staffordshire. The FA is a diverse workplace that aspires to represent football across the country, actively promotes in